Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

On December 8, 2022, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America issued a joint statement on telecommunications supplier diversity. The statement highlights the countries' commitment to the open radio access network (O-RAN) principles in the development of future telecommunications technologies such as 6G. The four principles are: Open disaggregation, allowing elements of the RAN to be sourced from different suppliers and implemented in new ways; Standards-based compliance, allowing all suppliers to test solutions against standards in an open, neutral environment; Demonstrated interoperability, ensuring disaggregated elements work together as a fully functional system; Implementation neutrality, allowing suppliers to innovate and differentiate on the features and performance of their products. Aligned with the O-RAN commitment, this funding proposal advocates for an advanced research platform specifically tailored to investigate the intricacies of future cellular networks. This envisioned platform addresses the persistent challenge of integrating and validating novel approaches for radio resource control and network operations. Central to this platform is the acquisition of the Orion Private 5G (P5G) by Firecell, a private 5G cellular network with unique capabilities, ranging from strict adherence to the latest 3GPP standards to the incorporation of software-defined modularity and open-source functionalities. The proposed platform becomes indispensable in this landscape, offering advantages over simulation environments and large deployments by mobile operators. It provides real-world testing scenarios, offering a deeper understanding of actual performance indicators and facilitating the assessment of new contributions on radio network automation and interference mitigation. In contrast to large deployments, the controlled environment of a lab platform enables efficient and rapid testing of novel functionalities without the challenges associated with widespread deployment. In conclusion, the proposed platform stands as a crucial asset for Canada, driving advancements in integrating openness and intelligence within future cellular networks. Its unique capabilities provide a transformative testing environment, benefiting not only established telecom companies and vendors but also welcoming software companies into an open ecosystem of solutions for the radio access network. Additionally, the platform supports the regulatory efforts of the telecom regulator. This enables the exploration of innovative methods for controlling radio resources and network operations, contributing directly to shaping global standards. In doing so, it ensures Canada's leadership in the dynamic landscape of cellular communication technologies and promotes a thriving and diverse telecommunications ecosystem.